Dragon's Blood

What the hell?

Bills' estate was a particularly run down area made up of streets of grey concrete blocks of flats and grim, box like terraced houses. Many properties were boarded up and those that were inhabited generally looked derelict anyway. It wasn't an area to hang around in after dark and Iyla suddenly wasn't feeling particularly safe in broad daylight either. She had a rough idea of where Bill lived, although she'd never actually been allowed inside, but all the blocks of flats looked the same and she realised she had no idea how she hoped to find him. Knowing she couldn't face going back to school and not wanting to go home to Sam and explain what she'd done she wandered aimlessly, feeling thoroughly ashamed for her outburst of temper and forgetting all about the strange shadow and the chill that had accompanied it.

She was about to give up and go home to face the music, when she saw Bill exit a chip shop some way away from her. She almost called out to him but something made her stop. He was walking along, hunched up, as if he was trying to make himself as small as possible. If he'd been off school ill, he certainly didn't look ill now, well no more than Bill ever did anyway. Iyla watched him walk down a street that was in the opposite direction to the area of the estate she knew he lived in and, as he disappeared round the corner, she set off after him. Rounding the corner herself, Iyla was surprised to see Bill stop in front of a block of flats where the entire first two floors were boarded up. He gave a furtive glance first one way and then, as Iyla darted behind some wheelie bins, back the way he had come. Satisfied no one was watching, Bill tugged at the boarding on one of the side windows on the ground floor and, as it pulled to one side, began to climb in.

It was at precisely that moment a rat chose to dart out from between the two bins Iyla was hiding behind. Iyla jumped up, knocking both bins over with a great crash and gave a shriek as the rat ran straight past her, seeking cover under a nearby car.

Bill too, jumped out of his skin at the noise, stopping dead halfway through the window. When he saw Iyla he looked at first relieved and then immediately furious. He began striding towards her.

"What the hell are you doing? Following me?" His eyes flashed with anger and he grabbed her by the arm, dragging her away from the bins where she was in plain sight of anyone who cared to look out of their window, and over to the flat he had been in the process of breaking into. Iyla decided attack was the best form of defence.

"What do you mean what am I doing?" she asked, "You're the one breaking and entering!"

"It's an empty flat," said Bill, "there's nothing in it. Why were you spying on me?" the anger in his voice had been replaced by a worried, pleading tone.

Iyla looked at the distress on his face and felt sick to her stomach for the second time that day, "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean to spy, I just ... well I was kind of worried about you. You weren't at school today so I thought you must be ill, then I saw you come out of the chip shop and you didn't look ill." The words continued to spill out as all the worries Iyla usually kept to herself, came bubbling to the surface, "We always worry about you you know Bill, you never talk about anything!"

Bill stared at her, his expression softened momentarily and then immediately hardened again, "Worried about me? Being nosy you mean." He folded his arms.

"No!" Iyla tried and failed to look indignant at the suggestion before her shoulders sagged, "Well, yes I suppose I was," she admitted, "But only because I was worried. Do you think I haven't noticed that bruise by your eye, which you've been trying to hide since Monday."

Bill touched the bruise, it had changed from purple to green and the swelling had gone, but it was still tender, "You were following me, spying on me." he said quietly.

"Because I'm your friend, and I'm worried," said Iyla again, defiantly. "Will you please just tell me what's going on and let me help you for once?"